Fighting in eastern Congo 'worst humanitarian crisis on planet' (by Jessica Lang)

AP ^ | 9/10/2003

[presidio9]

The fighting in northeastern Congo has created "the worst humanitarian crisis on the planet," Jessica Lange said Tuesday. The actress spent a week in the volatile area last month as a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Children's Fund. The five-year civil war in Congo has all but ended, but fighting between the Hema and Lendu tribes, a disastrous byproduct of the conflict, continues throughout much of resource-rich Ituri province.

[50sDad]

Animals.

[finnman69]

I guess ever a LW wacko like her must admit Iraq is improving.

[Weimdog]

Good job France.

[per loin]

It's Africa, Jessica. Quit trying to interfere with their culture.

[r9etb]

"This is at this time the worst humanitarian crisis on the planet

Could be -- though considering the number and horror of current African humanitarian crises, this is like trying to find the smelliest turd.

... and the worst documented war in the history of Africa,"

Well, now that's open to question. Seems to me that places like Rwanda and Biafra would seem to have a claim to that honor...

Sounds more like a case of Ms. Lange trying to drum up attention to her particular war.

As for me, I don't think these African sh*t holes will be peaceful until they're re-colonized by civilized nations.

[southernnorthcarolina]

Hi, Weimdog!

[SwinneySwitch]

"This is at this time the worst humanitarian crisis on the planet,..."

The french had over 12,000 senior citizens die during a heat wave this summer!

[presidio9]

It's Africa, Jessica. Quit trying to interfere with their culture.

shhhh. At least she has moved her focus away from American culture. She is "ashamed (and humiliated)to come from the United States," remember?

[per loin]

Perhaps she can take up permanent residence in the Congo, as she so dislikes America.

[mrmeyer]

I wonder just how long it will take for her to blame America for whats happening, maybe then she'll get more media attention.

[Big Mack]

I find it strange that she isn't flaming President Bush for all of the deaths in the Congo.

[gaspar]

Perhaps Jessica would be interested to note that the first great post-Colonial Congo slaughter occurred in the region between Stanlyville and Bunia, Ituri province nearly forty years ago. During that period Simba assassins killed scores of missionaries, hundreds of Christians and thousands of villagers. Oh, yes. The slaughter was ended when Mike Hoare and his band of mercenaries (including American blacks) slaughtered the Simba. The more things change....

[John O]

As for me, I don't think these African sh*t holes will be peaceful until they're re-colonized by civilized nations.

Agree entirely. From Egypt to Morocco, from Libya to South Africa, the Africans are just not civilized enough to govern themselves yet. Maybe after 50-75 years of colonization we can train up a population that will be ready to live as a society

Of course since the continent has no significance whatever to the US, they'll just have to wait until we are done wiping out islam.

[Pearls Before Swine]

I find it strange that she isn't flaming President Bush for all of the deaths in the Congo.

Wait. Its early. Its more likely she'll do that than ever flame Bill Clinton for the Rwanda massacres.

[doc]

Jessica I'm surprised you didn't blame this problem in Africa on the U.S.. Make your next trip to Zimbabwe.

[y2k_free_radical]

EVEN A BLIND PIG OR DOG

[John O]

This is the least-informed statement I have ever read on FR.

I'll grant that it may be a bit broad, there might be one or two african nations that are functioning.

But the vast majority of Africa is sinking into moral decay, corruption, death and disease and has been since the european colonizers pulled out. Rhodesia and South Africa were the great success stories of the continent and now they are becomming slums ruled by thugs, just like the rest of Africa.

Show me a few African societies that work. (I honestly don't know of any)